A love letter to antigua
There are places that feel like a backdrop, and then there are places that feel like a story. Antigua Guatemala is the latter.
From the moment we stepped onto its cobblestone streets, we understood why so many travelers return again and again. Antigua feels preserved and alive at the same time. Ancient, colorful facades, hand carved wooden doors and bougainvillea spilling over stone walls. Ruins that remind you how long this city has stood.
With volcanoes rising in the distance, especially Volcán de Agua standing watch over the city, there is a natural drama to the landscape. Morning light hits the tile rooftops and suddenly a walk feels cinematic.
We stayed at Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo, and it honestly took my breath away.
It felt like stepping into another century, respectfully and intentionally layered with present day luxuries. The preserved monastery ruins surrounded us, raw and intact, and modern design elements never competed with them. You were not observing history from a distance. You were living alongside it.
But Antigua was never just about where we slept.
We hiked volcanoes and zip lined through the jungle, laughing louder (with a few nervous tears from some) than expected. We wandered the city without strict agenda, turning down narrow streets simply because they looked beautiful. Coffee stops, local markets and long walks led to unexpected delights.
Our days were filled with movement in the mornings, adventure in the afternoons, and incredible local cuisine, wine, and conversation in the evenings.
On our final day, we practiced yoga in the Holy Brother Peter Chapel. Moving and breathing beneath vaulted ceilings in a space that had held centuries of prayer felt sacred in a way that is hard to explain. There was a quiet reverence in the room and emotions overtook many of us.
Our other classes took place in various courtyards and spaces within the ruins, overlooking the volcano as it sent up gentle smoke each morning. From our Intensive room, you could see ancient stone carved fountains below and lush foliage woven throughout, history and life layered together. Every room had once been something else. A corridor. A kitchen. A cell. A sacred space. Sculptures and artwork from centuries past, alongside emerging local artisans, surrounded us at every turn.
There was something powerful about moving our bodies in a place that had held so much before us.
Antigua invited us to live, fully. To notice, to explore, and to connect. Some places leave an imprint. Guatemala most certainly did.
There are still streets we want to wander and views we want to wake up to. We are not finished there. We will share more soon.
For now, just know this was never meant to be a one time experience. Join the list for our next retreat.
